Do light-speed limits on point-defense fire control give an incoming missile time to dodge at long range?
Short answerYes. At ranges measured in many light-seconds, the delay gives a maneuvering missile an opportunity to evade.
NotesLight-speed weapons do not remove time-of-flight and information delays. At a range of about 75 light-seconds, a point-defense laser and the targeting information that guides it cannot affect the missile immediately. A missile that continues to maneuver during that interval may move away from the predicted intercept point. Long range therefore creates an evasion opportunity even for a beam weapon.